#SheToo

'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' by Thomas Hardy

As long-term readers of this blog know, I struggle with The Classics.  I'm sure I'm not the only one, just as I'm sure everyone has their own reason for avoiding Austen, distancing from Dickens, or backing away from the Brontës.  

I myself have been hiding from Hardy ever since we did 'The Mayor of Casterbridge' at school.  I don't remember much about the experience, but since then have always associated Hardy with impenetrable, long-winded prose and depressing plots.  But a recent encounter with 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' may have changed all that.  Well, the first bit anyway. 

The Great Indoors

 'Bunker: Building for the End Times' by Dr. Bradley Garrett

Some books are lucky enough to be published at just the right moment.  'Bunker: Building for the End Times' by Bradley Garrett, released near the start of the Covid-19 global pandemic, is just such a book.

Apocalypse Now?

At the height of the Cold War, US citizens were told to prepare for nuclear attack, ensuring they could first survive then rebuild.  Though the threat faded, the general sense of dread remained, and many people continue to believe an extinction-level event is just around the corner.  Some expect disease, some climate disaster, others an attack from abroad, but all 'preppers' stockpile and plan in order to survive the inevitable collapse of society and state.  Somewhere to go and a way to get there are essential.  In 'Bunker', Dr. Garrett explores both the prepper subculture and the modern-day bunkers that preppers hope to survive in.  From the buried tubular descendents of Anderson Shelters, to converted 1960s government installations, repurposed military vehicles to luxury, inverted tower blocks, it seems everyone thinks they know how to survive the end of the world.

It's All in the Mind, You Know

'I'm a Joke and So are You: Reflections on Humour and Humanity' by Robin Ince

Stand up comedy has blossomed in recent decades.  There seems to be a stand-up for every sense of humour, be it silly, surreal, relatable or satirical.  But is there a particular psychology that links these performers and makes certain people predestined for this strange, diverse and nomadic profession?  This is the question explored by comedian and presenter Robin Ince in 'I'm a Joke and So are You'.

Celebrity Express

'Dead Famous: An Unexpected History of Celebrity from Bronze Age to Silver Screen' by Greg Jenner (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2020)

A few years ago, I visited Bamburgh*, Northumberland, home of the RNLI Grace Darling Museum.  It's a small museum with an inspirational story to tell - that of a young lighthouse keeper's daughter who took part in the perilous rescue of nine wrecked passengers during a horrific storm in 1838.  Her bravery captured the Victorian imagination, and Darling became an unwilling celebrity.  One of the most interesting things I learned during the visit was that, when she died just four years later, donations flooded in from an adoring public for a magnificent Gothic memorial featuring her stone likeness.  Not only is the ostentatious tomb at odds with both Darling's modesty and the charming coastal setting, it is also empty.  Tellingly, she was actually buried alongside her beloved family elsewhere in the churchyard rather than beneath the heroic image her fans thrust upon her.  Stories like Darling's and the strange interaction between public image and personal life are just one of the many contradictory features explored in Greg Jenner's new book, 'Dead Famous: An Unexpected History of Celebrity from Bronze Age to Silver Screen'.

'Dead Famous' is a densely packed gallop through the development of 'Celebrity'.  We may all think we know what it is, but Jenner has dug deeper and separated it from similar categories like 'renown', 'fame' and 'infamy'.  He's found that the right combination of personal charisma, popular recognition and interest, media coverage and rampant profiteering puts even the most unlikely and reluctant people (and animals) on track to become 'celebrities'.  Although the process was made much easier when mass media developed in the 1700s, the concept is much older.  Jenner reaches back as far as Ancient Greece and Rome, where proto-celebrities appeared in the form of popular gladiators, but provides many examples down the ages, some names more familiar than others.  From royal courtesans to romantic writers, petulant actors to glamorous movie stars, notorious criminals to exotic animals, each offers a fascinating insight into one of the most debated but elusive concepts of the modern age.

Eleanor's Army

'The Revolt' by Clara Dupont-Monod (Quercus, 2020)

As long term readers know, I love historical fiction.  I'm also a sucker for a beautiful book, so when Quercus Books tweeted the gorgeous Chris Wormell cover for 'The Revolt' by Clara Dupont-Monod, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy.

'The Revolt' is a story of medieval rule-breaker Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, told largely by her favourite son, Richard, the eventual King Richard the Lionheart.  A woman aware of her status and worth as Duchess of Aquitaine and heir of Poitiers, she expects to rule beside her husband, not be owned by him.  After her disappointing first marriage is annulled, she believes she's found a better match in Henry Plantagenet, later King Henry II of England.  Unfortunately, he has other ideas, and by the time their children are grown, he has taken control of her dominions, subjugating her people and ransacking the land.  Eleanor, her sons and ex-husband King Louis of France band together to revolt against the hated ruler, but can they defeat the warrior king?  And if they fail, what punishment will be devised for this bold and beautiful queen?

Miss, Educated

'Educated' by Tara Westover (Penguin Random House, 2018)

With schools still closed or partially closed due to Covid-19, education is back in the headlines.  At first, it seemed like a dream scenario for many students, but the novelty soon wore off, and many are now realising the long term damage of a disrupted education.  Someone who knows more than most about the challenges of catching up on missed classroom time is Tara Westover, author of memoir 'Educated'.

Tara Westover grew up in rural Idaho, USA, the youngest of seven children in a family dominated by her father.  His twin obsessions were becoming as self-sufficient as possible in preparation for the end of the world, and avoiding contact with the authorities.  As such, while the children didn't go to school or see doctors, they learned to preserve food, use firearms and hide resources such as fuel around the family homestead.  They worked as his crew in their scrap yard, often risking life and limb in an environment where health and safety amounted to decaying steel toe-capped boots and not much else.  When accidents occur, the children are treated by their herbalist mother.  As she grows up, Tara's relationship with her siblings changes as they each begin living lives of their own.  While Tyler shows her there may be hope beyond the farmstead, the mercurial Shawn leaves her broken and doubting her own mind.  When Tara herself finally decides to pursue formal education, she manages to overcome her father's opposition, but, when challenged by life in an alien outside world, will she flee and return to the familiarity of home?

Billy Connolly's Greatest Hits

'Tall Tales and Wee Stories' by Billy Connolly (Two Roads, 2019)

Billy Connolly is one of Scotland's greatest exports.  Now well into his 70s, the musician, actor, artist and stand up no longer performs live, but you can relive some of his best bits through 'Tall Tales and Wee Stories'. 

'Tall Tales and Wee Stories' is a collection of Connolly's classic monologues, drawn from sixty years of sell out performances across the globe.  The ex-welder first found fame as a folk singer, but discovered a talent for public storytelling when he forgot a song's lyrics while on stage.  He filled the gap with a story and it was so well received that it became part of the act.  Eventually, storytelling routines took over from the music altogether.  This book includes favourites such as a Cardinal's school visit, a children's countryside outing, a working class Scottish house party, the workings of airplane toilets, how a cat caused trouble for a film armourer, the infamous Crucifixion sketch and many, many more.  These 'Tall Tales and Wee Stories' are silly, sweary and surreal, in short everything you'd expect from the Big Yin.

Rebooting Orwell

'The Ministry of Truth: A Biography of George Orwell's 1984' by Dorian Lynskey (Picador, 2019)

You know a book's big when it has its own biography.  I recently re-read 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' in preparation for 'The Ministry of Truth', Dorian Lynskey's story of the origins and afterlife of George Orwell's most famous novel.

Ctrl Alt Delete: Back to Nineteen Eighty-Four

'Nineteen Eighty-Four' by George Orwell (Penguin Modern Classic edition, 2000)

One of the few fun features of lockdown has been getting a look inside people's homes during video calls.  After a short while, it became obvious that people were curating the rooms they broadcast from.  "I'm a family man!" cried the wall of kids photos and crayon drawings.  "I've got incredible taste!" boasted a minimalist display of just one, large, abstract artwork.  "I'm an intellectual!" crowed bookcases of leather-bound classics.  The only problem is that bookshelves cannot be trusted.  As many well publicised surveys have proven over the past decade, not only are shelves littered with unread volumes, but people happily lie about reading some of the world's most prestigious works.  George Orwell's infamous novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' is often listed among them - ironic for a book themed around truth.

Sex, Guys and Audiotape

'Diary of a Drag Queen' by Crystal Rasmussen (Ebury Press, 2019)

Picture the scene.  It's a beautiful sunny day in spring 2020.  Outside, the birds are singing a delicate morning chorus while the flourishing plant life sways and nods languidly in the gentle breeze.  Inside, a nearly-but-not-quite middle-aged woman sits quietly, embroidering a picture of a cute puppy dog using the softest of threads.  It's a complex pattern requiring infinite patience.  All is relaxed and calm and excessively gentile.  So, what do you suppose the embroiderer might be listening to?  Surely nothing so filthy, fun and raucous as 'Diary of a Drag Queen' by Crystal Rasmussen!

Sleep Walking

'Walking Away' by Simon Armitage (Faber & Faber, 2015)

Being stuck inside, I thought that the logical thing to do was read something that took me to the great outdoors.  So I picked up 'Walking Away' by Simon Armitage, hiker, Yorkshireman and Poet Laureate.

'Walking Away' is the follow up to 'Walking Home', the story of Armitage's 2010 hike along the Pennine Way as an itinerant poet, performing recitals for bed, board and whatever audiences were willing to donate.  In late summer 2013, he repeated the exercise along the northern section of the South West Coast Path, starting at Butlins in Minehead and aiming for the Scilly Isles off the toe tip of Cornwall.  Along the way, he suffers the extremes of British weather, traverses tourist hotspots and rural idylls, and rhymes for his supper every step of the way.

Caught in the Cultural Crossfire

'Kill the Black One First' AKA 'A Search for Belonging' by Michael Fuller (535, 2019)

I've discovered the library's audiobook app.  Talk about a kid in a sweet shop!  There's so much to choose from, but I stopped short when I saw 'Kill the Black One First' by Michael Fuller listed.  With a shocking title like that, I had to take a closer look.

Hell Hath No Fury

'The Devil's Blade' by Mark Adler (Gollancz, 2020)

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" goes the old saying, and there is no fury like Julie D'Aubigny's in 'The Devil's Blade' by Mark Alder.

17th Century France: When wannabe diva Julie D'Aubigny is summoned to perform in a forest near Paris, she believes it's the opportunity to find a great patron and finally realise her dream of joining the city's Opera.  Instead, she finds herself cornered by a secret society of aristocratic satanists, who sacrifice her beautiful voice at the point of a sword.  Wronged and refusing to be silenced, Julie makes her own pact with the Devil and begins to hunt down and slaughter the men who stole her future.  But can she find them before the year is out?  Will the Devil keep to their bargain?  Can she save her own soul from the fires of Hell?

A Man for All Reasons

'Reasons to Stay Alive' by Matt Haig (Canongate, 2016)

I first heard of Matt Haig as an author, then kept hearing praise for his mental health memoir 'Reasons to Stay Alive' online, before seeing the book listed on a Reading Well campaign leaflet that I picked up at the library. With so many passionate voices praising this book, I decided it was time to take a closer look.

Part memoir and part self-help, 'Reasons to Stay Alive' is the story of Matt Haig's life with depression and anxiety.  He describes his illness from a personal perspective, starting with a crippling breakdown he had in his mid-twenties, his ongoing recovery and what helps him keep his mind healthy in everyday life.  Above all, he aims to encourage people to understand mental health in the same way as physical health, and to reinforce that there are many, many reasons to stay alive.

Caught Napping?

'The Second Sleep' by Robert Harris (Hutchinson, 2019)

So, with the Coronavirus pandemic causing panic across the globe, what do I pick up from the TBR pile?  Something that provides comfort, relaxation and escapism perhaps?  No.  I pick Robert Harris' post-apocalyptic tale 'The Second Sleep'.  Obviously.

When Father Thomas Lacy dies unexpectedly, the young priest Christopher Fairfax is despatched to his remote parish to conduct the funeral.  Although Fairfax expects his work to be straightforward and his time in the insular Exmoor village to be brief, it's not long before he realises that Lacy was no ordinary parson and this will be no ordinary visit.  At first he ignores signs of Lacy's heresy - the library of forbidden books, the display case of ancient artifacts in plastic and metal - but it's not long before curiosity gets the better of him, and he finds himself exploring possibilities previously undreamt of.  Why is the area a hotspot for unearthing strange and mysterious historical objects?  Was Lacy's death really an accident?  And, above all, what is the secret of 'The Devil's Chair'?

How Dickens got his Words Back

'The Personal History of David Copperfield' (Dir. Armando Iannucci, 2019)

Watching Armando Iannucci's 'The Personal History of David Copperfield' has made me want to read the Charles Dickens' book.  And that's a compliment.  Honest.

Reaching New Heights

'Ring the Hill' by Tom Cox (Unbound, 2019)

One of my absolute favourite books last year was the audio version of '21st Century Yokel' by Tom Cox, so when I heard he was writing a follow up on the themes of walking, landscape and hills, I couldn't wait.

In 'Ring the Hill', Cox explores the lumps and bumps of the landscape, from tors and mumps, to cliffs and knolls.  Starting with the iconic Glastonbury Tor in Somerset, his exploration of these landmarks leads to musings on wildlife, history, language and folklore, as well as an insight into the background to his collection of folk-horror stories 'Help the Witch'.  There's even a bit of social commentary and the odd ghost story thrown in.  As with its thematically-linked predecessor, this book is a wander through countryside and culture, wide-ranging, all-embracing and rarely dull.